Duckworth Grit Scale
Measure your passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Choose the 8-item short version (GRIT-S) or the 12-item full version.
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Grit is the passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It's about working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.
The Duckworth Grit Scale was developed by psychologist Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research has shown that grit predicts success in diverse high-achievement contexts better than talent alone.
1. What is Grit?
Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It involves working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.
2. Two Key Components
Consistency of Interest
The ability to maintain the same top-level goal over extended periods. People high in this trait don't frequently change their career paths or life objectives.
Perseverance of Effort
The tendency to sustain effort toward goals despite setbacks, failures, and adversity. It's about working hard and not giving up.
3. Research Findings
- Grit predicts success in diverse high-achievement contexts better than talent
- Grittier students are more likely to graduate from high school and college
- Grit predicts retention in challenging professions like teaching and military training
- Grit can be developed and strengthened over time
4. Test Versions
GRIT-S (Short Form)
The 8-item short form (GRIT-S) was developed as a more efficient alternative while maintaining good reliability. It takes about 1-2 minutes to complete.
Full Form (Grit-O)
The original 12-item version provides more detailed measurement. It takes about 3-5 minutes to complete and offers slightly higher reliability.
5. About Angela Duckworth
Angela Duckworth is a psychologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. She developed the Grit Scale and authored the bestseller 'Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance'. Her research has transformed our understanding of achievement and success.
Further Reading
- Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.
- Duckworth, A. L., & Quinn, P. D. (2009). Development and validation of the Short Grit Scale (GRIT–S). Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(2), 166–74.
References
- Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087-1101. 10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087
- Credé, M., Tynan, M. C., & Harms, P. D. (2017). Much ado about grit: A meta-analytic synthesis of the grit literature. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(3), 492-511. 10.1037/pspp0000102
- Duckworth, A. L., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Self-control and grit: Related but separable determinants of success. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 319–25.
- Eskreis-Winkler, L., Shulman, E. P., Beal, S. A., & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). The grit effect: Predicting retention in the military, the workplace, school and marriage. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 36.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What is grit?
Grit, defined by psychologist Angela Duckworth, is perseverance and passion for long-term goals. The Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) measures two facets: consistency of interest and perseverance of effort.
How is this grit score calculated?
You rate 8 statements on a 5-point scale. Items are averaged into an overall grit score from 1 to 5; higher values reflect more consistent, sustained goal pursuit. Reverse-scored items are handled automatically.
Does grit predict success?
Grit correlates with achievement in some settings, but the effect is modest — a 2016-2017 meta-analysis found it largely overlaps with conscientiousness and adds limited predictive power beyond it. Treat your score as one input, not a destiny.
Can grit be increased?
Some evidence suggests sustained interest and effort can be cultivated through practice, mentorship, and goal structures. But grit is also substantially stable, and forcing more 'grit' is not always healthier than adjusting goals.
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